THE WOLF HUNTERS 



with the rough hospitality of the frontier to wait 

 for a more formal invitation; "but if you've got 

 time to watch me eat I'll show you how to do it." 



He dismounted, tied his horse to the wagon, 

 turned up a water bucket for a seat, and sat down 

 to dinner with us. **The smell of that bean soup 

 catches me." 



As a surprise, when we had nearly finished Tom 

 went to the oven and brought out a couple of nice 

 hot pies. 



'^What a blessin' it is, sure," said Jack, "to 

 have somethin' to cook an' somebody that knows 

 how to cook it!" 



"Well," replied Tom, "it's better than having a 

 surplus of cooks an' no rations — a state of affairs 

 we all know something about." 



"I was just a-goin' to remark," added Bill, 

 "that I see you've got a good cook in the outfit, an' 

 that's no small help. I always knew Tom was a 

 first-class soldier, an' now I've found out another 

 of his accomplishments. Boys, I expect to be out 

 to Fort Larned before long, an' if I ever strike 

 your trail out in that neighborhood I'll sure 

 foller it up an' invite myself to take a square meal 

 with you once in a while." 



"Well, I'll tell ye right now. Bill, you'll always 

 be welcome," said Jack, while Tom and I added: 

 "Second the motion." 



"My special errand out here," said Bill as he 

 unhitched his horse and prepared to mount, "was 



30 



